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Getting Fresh with Farmers'
Markets
(cont'd
from SSAWG E-Newsletter April 2008)
The
following resources were provided by Janet Bachman, NCAT Agriculture
Specialist, updated from the article entitled “Farmers’
Markets: Marketing and Business Guide,” a publication of ATTRA,
the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. To read the
ATTRA article, click here. (Watch for the complete updated version that will be appearing in mid-summer.)
Resources
Southern
State and
National Associations
Arkansas
Arkansas
Farmers’ Market Association
Jean Jones, President
3004 Linden Avenue
Texarkana, AR 71854
870.772.4558
903.559.9401
jeanjones@cableone.net
Alabama
Don
Wambles,
Director
Farmers Market
Authority
RSA Plaza, Suite 330
770 Washington
Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36130
334.242.2618
Don.wambles@fma.alabama.gov
www.fma.alabama.gov
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Farmers’
Market Alliance
Susie Lawrence
OFMA Secretary / Treasurer
Rt 1 Box 10
Braggs, OK 74423
sandcreekfarm@mynewroads.com
www.okfarmersmarket.org
Farmers Market
Coalition
Stacy
Miller,
Executive Secretary
304.685.2669
stacy@farmersmarketcoalition.org
www.farmersmarketcoalition.org
The
FMC grew out of the North American Farmers Direct Marketing
Association, and
evolved to become a separate 501(c
)3
organization. The
mission of the FMC is
to strengthen farmers markets for the benefit of farmers, consumers,
and
communities. The
membership fee is $25 per year for individual markets.
Project
for Public
Spaces
700 Broadway, 4th Fl
New
York, NY 10003
212.620.5660
www.pps.org
Project
for Public Spaces is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping
people
create and sustain public spaces that build stronger
communities. It has managed grants to fund a number of
farmers’ market projects around the country.
Federal
Assistance: WIC-FMNP, SFMNP, and EBT
The Women, Infants, and
Children (WIC) Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP),
established in 1992, is
a federal program that benefits both vendors and low-income
customers. It provides special coupons to WIC
participants, which they can use to purchase fresh fruits and
vegetables at
participating farmers' markets. The
program has two goals:
- To provide fresh
nutritious unprepared food such as fruits
and vegetables to WIC participants who are at nutritional risk; and
- To expand consumer
awareness and use
of farmers' markets.
During
fiscal year 2005, 14,323 farmers, 2,715 farmers' markets and 1,999
roadside
stands were authorized to accept FMNP coupons.
Coupons redeemed through the FMNP resulted in over $23.4 million in
revenue to farmers for fiscal year 2005.
Each
State agency is responsible for authorizing individual farmers,
farmers’ markets,
or both. The FMNP contact person for each State agency can be
found at http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/Contacts/farm.htm.
The
Senior Farmers'
Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) awards grants to
States, United States
Territories, and federally-recognized Indian tribal governments to
provide
low-income seniors with coupons that can be exchanged for eligible
foods at
farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture
programs. Go to their website at http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/SeniorFMNP/SFMNPmenu.htm
for more details and to learn whether the program is operating in your
state.
The
Food Stamp Program helps low-income people and
families buy the food they
need for good health. Benefits are provided on an electronic
card that is
used like a credit card in grocery stores and farmers’
markets that have been authorized to accept them. The 2006 EBT Farmers’ Market Projects
Status Report describes how
markets around the country are using EBT.
Federal
Assistance: Grants
USDA
Risk
Management Community Outreach and Assistance Partnership Program
For information visit: http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/agreements/
Farmers
Market Promotion Program
For information visit: www.ams.usda.gov/fmp
The
Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) provides grants
to help eligible entities improve and expand domestic
farmers’ markets, roadside stands,
community-supported agriculture programs, and other direct
producer-to-consumer
market opportunities. Eligible entities
under the FMPP program include agricultural cooperatives, local
governments,
nonprofit corporations, public benefit corporations, economic
development
corporations, regional farmers market authorities, and Tribal
governments. In FY-2006, approximately $1 million was
allocated for the program with a maximum amount awarded for any one
proposal
not to exceed $75,000.
CSREES
supports community food projects that meet the food
needs of low-income people, that increase the
self-reliance of communities in providing for their own needs, and that
promote responses to local
food, farm, and nutrition problems. It
also supports efforts to develop state, local, or
neighborhood food and agriculture infrastructure, plan for long-term
solutions,
and create innovative marketing activities that benefit agricultural
producers
and low-income consumers.
The program also
seeks to develop linkages among sectors of the food
system—including the for-profit and
nonprofit sectors—to support the development of
entrepreneurial projects, and
to encourage
long-term planning and multi-system, inter-agency
collaboration. Matching non-Federal support of the project,
dollar for dollar, is required during the term of the grant. The
non-Federal
share may be provided through payment in cash or in-kind contributions
in the
form of facilities, equipment, or services. The non-Federal share may
be
derived from State or local governments, or from private sources.
Books
The New Farmers’
Market. 2001. By Eric Gibson,
Marcie Rosenzweig, and Vance
Corum. New World Publishing, Auburn,
CA. 272 p. Available
for $24.95 plus shipping.
The Legal Guide for
Direct Farm Marketing. 1999. By
Neil D. Hamilton. Drake University Law School, Des Moines,
IA. 235 p. Available
for $20 plus shipping.
Farmers’
Markets:
Rules, Regulations and Opportunities. 2002.
By Neil D. Hamilton. National Center for Agricultural Law
Research
and Information Center. 47 p. www.NationalAgLawCenter.org
Covers
fundamental issues that must be addressed by all farmers’
markets, regardless
of their size or complexity: who administers the market, who
determines
who can sell what, how the market will operate.
Grassroots Marketing:
Getting Noticed in a Noisy World.
2000. By Shel Horowitz. 306
p.
A
resource for any kind of small business, including horticultural
businesses,
the book has ideas for low-cost or free publicity. Topics
include creating an image; how to write ad copy and press
releases; tricks of the printing trade to save money on brochures and
ads;
direct mail; selling on the Internet; working with the media; and much
more. $22.95 plus shipping.
Dynamic Farmers' Marketing.
1997. By Jeff Ishee. Bittersweet Farmstead,
Middlebrook, VA. 130 p. Available for
$14.95 plus $2.50 shipping from:
Bittersweet Farmstead
P.O. Box 52
Middlebrook, VA 24459
540.886.8477
Market Farming
Success. 2006. By Lynn
Byczynski. Fairplain Publications, Lawrence, KS.
138 p. Available
from:
Fairplain Publications Inc.
Growing for Market
P.O. Box 3747
Lawrence, KS 66046
800.307.8949
www.growingformarket.com
The New Farmers'
Market: Farm-Fresh Ideas for Producers, Managers and Communities.
2001, Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), the outreach
arm of USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
program (SARE).
272 p. http://www.sare.org/publications/index.htm.
Available for $24.95 from: http://www.sare.org/publications/newfarmer.htm
In one complete volume, this must-have resource for direct market
producers covers the latest tips and trends from leading-edge sellers,
managers
and market planners all over the country. Learn about the "hottest"
products to grow and sell as well as how best to display and
merchandise your
products, set prices, and run a friendly, profitable business. The
volume
includes 100 photographs and a detailed list of additional resources.
(Sorry,
no bulk discounts available.)
Publications from an
organization or agency
Starting a Seasonal
Open-Air Market in Kansas: A Market
Organizer’s Field Guide.
2007. By Claire Homitsky, Kansas Rural Center; and
Jana Beckman, K-State Research and Extension,
Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
22 p. www.oznet.ksu.edu
Marketing
the
Market. By Jerry Jost and Mercedes
Taylor-Puckett. The Kansas Rural
Center. 6 p. Online at www.kansasruralcenter.org/publications/.
A
must-read for farmers’ market members, boards, and
managers. Printed copies are available from:
Kansas Rural Center
P.O. Box 133,
Whiting, KS 66552
785.873.3431
Step by Step Guide
for Establishing a Farmers’ Market Association.
By Diane Eggert, Farmers’ Market Federation of New
York. 11 p.
Includes
sample by-laws and member agreement.
117 Highbridge
Street, Suite U-3
Fayetteville, NY 13066
315.637.4690
www.nyfarmersmarket.com
Getting Started with
Farmers’ Markets. 2008. Wallace
Center, Winrock International. 28 p.
A
simple and brief guide to show farmers how other farmers have worked to
make
their farms profitable by selling some or all of their products at
farmers’
markets.
Recruiting Vendors
for a Farmers’ Market.
2008. Wallace
Center, Winrock International. 24 p.
This
guide is designed to help show how market managers diversify their
vendor and
customer bases to grow their markets. Both booklets
are available from:
Henry A. Wallace Center
Winrock International
1621 N. Kent Street, Arlington,
VA 22209
703.525.9430
MKurlanski@winrock.org
www.wallacecenter.org
Understanding
Farmers’ Market Rules.
2006. By Jess Anna Speier and Jill E.
Krueger. Farmers’ Legal Action
Group. 8 p. Intended
to help farmers understand their responsibilities and rights as vendors
at a
farmers’ market. Also highlights some
of the relevant federal, state, and local laws that may apply.
Available through:
FLAG
360
North Robert Street, Suite 500
St.
Paul, MN 55101-1589
651.223.5400
lawyers@flaginc.org
www.flaginc.org
Periodicals
Growing
for Market
P.O. Box 3747
Lawrence, KS 66046
800.307.8949
growing4market@earthlink.net
http://www.growingformarket.com
Growing
for Market is a monthly
publication about growing and direct marketing vegetables, fruits,
herbs, cut
flowers and plants. It covers
farmers markets, Community Supported Agriculture, the local food
movement,
organic growing, cut flowers, and much more.
Print subscriptions are $33 per year, or 2 years for $60.
Check the website for online
subscriptions.
Farmers’ Markets
Today
Scissortail Productions LLC
120 W. 4th St. Ste. A
Cedar Falls, IA
50613-2832
info@scissortailProductionsLlc.com
www.FarmersMarketsToday.com
Published
6 times a year, Farmers’ Markets Today is
free (print or PDF e-mail) to qualified farmers and farmers’
market managers (through May 15, 2008); subscription cost to others is
$33.95.
Websites
Wallace Center at
Winrock International
www.wallacecenter.org
The
Wallace Center supports entrepreneurs and communities to build a new
21st
century food system that is healthier for people, the environment, and
the
economy.
USDA/Agricultural
Marketing Service
www.ams.usda.gov
Farmers’
Market Resource Guide, Farmers’ Market Promotion Program,
wholesale market
prices, even a page for kids.
A
number of publications listed on this web site can be downloaded or
ordered
electronically. Or contact:
Velma R. Lakins
Wholesale and Alternative Markets
Program - USDA
Room 2644 - South
1400 Independence Ave. S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250-0269
202.690.0031 Fax
velma.lakins@usda.gov
Market Farming e-mail
discussion group
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/market-farming
Market Farming provides the
small-scale farmer a way to network with other farmers, to discuss
appropriate
scale production methods, equipment, marketing, profitability, cropping
sequences, diversification, sustainability, working with extension
agents,
private consultants and fellow farmers, and anything else involved in
making a
living and providing food and fiber from your small acreage farm. To
see the
collection of prior postings to the list, visit the Market-farming
Archives. To read their FAQ’s
(frequently asked questions) visit Market
Farming.net
Some Thoughts on
Selling at Markets
http://ninaplanck.com/pdf/HowToSellLocal%7E.pdf
Additional
ATTRA Publications
http://.attra.org/
or call 800.346.9140 for free
printed publications.
Direct
Marketing.
1999. By Katherine Adam, Radika
Balasubrahmanyam, and Holly Born.
National Center for Appropriate Technology, Fayetteville, AR.
36 p.
Market
Gardening: A Start
Up Guide.
2002. By
Janet Bachmann. National
Center for Appropriate Technology, Fayetteville, AR.
Postharvest Handling of
Fruits and
Vegetables.
2000 By Janet Bachmann and Richard
Earles. National
Center for Appropriate
Technology, Fayetteville, AR.
28 p.
Adding Value to Farm
Products: An
Overview.
2006. By
Holly Born and Janet
Bachmann. National
Center for
Appropriate Technology, Fayetteville, AR.
12 p.
Keys to Success in
Value-Added Agriculture. 2001.
By Holly Born.
National Center for Appropriate Technology,
Fayetteville, AR. 20
p.
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